Former College Student Receives Golden Accolade

Posted: June 19th 2015

​Doncaster College is celebrating as Carl Lygo, the Vice Chancellor at BPP University and former student at the college, has been awarded a prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Gold Award at the House of Commons.

Staff and students from Doncaster College attended the star-studded awards ceremony in London on 10 June where Carl was presented with his AoC Gold Award by Lord Willis of Knaresborough.

On accepting the award, Carl Lygo, said: “This award means a great deal to me working as I do in the education sector and knowing that it has been as a result of the nomination of people who I respect and look up to. I am proud to have attended Doncaster College and I hope that all students at the College will take heart that no matter what humble beginnings you start off with you can make your dreams a reality with a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Carl was nominated by the college where he studied A Levels in economics, history and law from 1984 to 1986. Carl followed in the footsteps of his mum who also studied at the college in the 1970s and he attributes his passion for education from being exposed to reading in the adult literacy classes that his mum attended at the college. Carl went on to win a scholarship to university where he graduated with a First Class honours degree in law. Carl joined BPP in 1997 and is the longest serving current member of the BPP Holdings board and was instrumental in the development of BPP Law School and the grant of degree awarding powers to BPP.

Alongside Carl Lygo, Doncaster College nominated Nathan Forster as a student showing promise in a similar field to receive the Association of Colleges ‘Future Star’ accolade. Nathan (21) is studying an NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration at the college and hopes to emulate Carl’s success by working hard and achieving in business.

Nathan also attended the award ceremony at the House of Commons where he had the opportunity to meet Carl Lygo to find out more about what it takes to carve out a successful career and the role that their college played.

Nathan said: “I am very honoured to have met such a successful person and one day I hope to be just as successful as he is. After all, Carl started his education at Doncaster College, just like me.”

George Trow Principal and Chief Executive at Doncaster College said: “This national recognition award for Carl Lygo and Nathan Forster is really a testament to the exceptional work tutors and other staffs do every day to make life changing differences in students’ lives. I am extremely proud and privileged to be able to celebrate this with my colleagues.”

The AoC Gold Awards celebrate the success of further education alumni and acknowledge the vital role that colleges play in building the foundation of successful careers.